The players, however, say they couldn't get caught up in the excitement.

That doesn't mean they didn't.

Defensive tackle Kyle Williams, in his ninth season with the Bills, said he was overjoyed.

"There was really some relief that 10, 12, 15 years from now, I don't have to tell my kids what a special place this is," Williams said after practice on Wednesday. "I can bring them and let them experience it."

Said quarterback EJ Manuel: "We're very excited and very happy we're going to be staying in Buffalo."

For cornerback Corey Graham, a Buffalo native, the news was even more special. Growing up, the Bills were his team and now, after playing five seasons with the Chicago Bears and two with the Baltimore Ravens, they're his team again.

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Terry Pegula, center, new owner of the Buffalo Bills, braces to catch a tossed football as he poses with his family inside Ralph Wilson Stadium. From left are his daughter Jessica, son Matthew, Terry, daughter's Kelly, Laura and wife Kim. Jamie Germano/@jgermano1/, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Terry Pegula (center), new owner of the Buffalo Bills poses with his family inside Ralph Wilson Stadium. From left are his , son Matthew, daughters Jessica and Kelly, Terry, Laura and wife Kim. Jamie Germano/@jgermano1/, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft, right, Terry Pegula, who was approved to buy the Buffalo Bills, left, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell talk during a break in a meeting of NFL owners on Wednesday. Seth Wenig, AP

Buffalo Sabres owner Terry Pegula stands with former Sabres palyers Rene Robert #14, the late Rick Martin #7 and Gilbert Perrault #11 during pre-game ceremonies prior to play against the Atlanta Thrashers at HSBC Arena on February 23, 2011 in Buffalo. A fan at heart, Pegula teared up meeting his heroes. Rick Stewart/Getty Images

Terry Pegula, Sabres owner is introduced as the new owner the Rochester Americans AHL hockey team during a press conference in Rochester on June 29, 2011. JAMIE GERMANO/@jgermano1/2009 staff file photo

Terry Pegula, Sabres owner is introduced as the new owner the Rochester Americans AHL hockey team during a press conference in Rochester on June 29, 2011. JAMIE GERMANO/@jgermano1/2009 staff file photo

"I grew up in this community and I'm just happy that my children will have that same opportunity," Graham said.

The fear during the sale process was that an owner from outside Western New York, specifically the Toronto group led by Jon Bon Jovi, would submit the winning bid. The Pegulas made sure that didn't happen, winning the purchase rights with a reported bid of $1.4 billion.

"You don't want the wrong person to buy the team and take it away from the people of Western New York," Graham said. "They've put blood, sweat and tears into this team and they support this team to the max.

"It's a great feeling for all the fans."

And for the players, even if most say they have been focused solely on football.

“There was really some relief that 10, 12, 15 years from now, I don’t have to tell my kids what a special place this is. I can bring them and let them experience it.
”

Kyle Williams, defensive tackle

"You really don't have too much to do with it as a player but I'm happy that it's a couple very familiar to the area," eighth-year running back Fred Jackson said. "Being good friends with Pat Kaleta (the Buffalo Sabres forward and a native of the Buffalo suburb of Angola), I've heard nothing but good things about them."

Bills fans in the Buffalo area are elated.

There is already at least one electronic highway billboard in Buffalo that simply says "Pegulaville." Another person partially covered up the city name in the "Welcome to Buffalo" sign with "Pegulaville"

The players expect the excitement to reach a crescendo at Ralph Wilson Stadium on Sunday when the Bills play the Miami Dolphins at 1 p.m.

"It's going to be crazy," Jackson said.

Coach Doug Marrone said the Bills must take advantage of the excitement, and also make sure it doesn't fizzle during the game.

“The fans can eat it up and have fun all week, but we have to get to work. It’s business as usual this week. This can all come crashing down if we don’t prepare and have a good week.
”

Eric Wood, guard

"To get a stadium packed with our fans, feeling good, coming off a win, we have to feed off that," he said.

"Obviously it's exciting for all of us," said Marrone, who said he is grateful for the investment by the Pegulas but also for the guidance of Mary Wilson, wife of the late Ralph Wilson, since the death of her husband 5 1/2 months ago.

"The person I want to thank in all this is Mary Wilson; she's been outstanding," Marrone said.

The players know the craziness within the fan base may not linger if they don't play well against the Dolphins.

"The fans can eat it up and have fun all week," sixth-year guard Eric Wood said, "but we have to get to work. It's business as usual this week. This can all come crashing down if we don't prepare and have a good week."

KEVINO@DemocratandChronicle.com

Twitter.com/@kevinoDandC

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Buffalo Bills legend and former quarterback Jim Kelly speaks about the Buffalo Bills recent sale to the Pegulas.
Video by Carlos Ortiz

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Kevin Oklobzija discusses how Terry Pegula has run the Buffalo Sabres and what future role Kim, his wife, might have with the Buffalo Bills.

Injury update

Cornerback Stephon Gilmore, who missed the season opener against the Bears because of a groin injury, took part in practice Wednesday and may play against the Dolphins.

Coach Doug Marrone said it will essentially be up to Gilmore on whether he is active on Sunday.

Wide receiver Sammy Watkins, bothered by a rib injury since the preseason, also was a full go in practice, the team said.

Bills 23, Bears 20 OT

Two Buffalo veterans, DT Kyle Williams and RB Fred Jackson, played difference-maker for the Bills (1-0) in their Week 1 upset over the Bears at Soldier Field. Williams made the first interception of his career to set up a vital score in the fourth quarter, while Jackson ripped off a 38-yard run (capped by an unbelievable stiff-arm) in OT to set up Dan Carpenter's game-winning field goal.

Bills 29, Dolphins 10

The Ralph was rocking for the Bills' home opener, as fans paid tribute to Ralph Wilson Jr., gave a rousing ovation to Jim Kelly, celebrated the Pegulas' commitment to Buffalo and watched as a pair of Clemson stars provided the fireworks. Dan Carpenter nailed five field goals as the team's red-zone offense struggled, but CJ Spiller's 102-yard kickoff return for a touchdown provided the highlight of the day for Buffalo (2-0). Sammy Watkins had a stellar game and scored his first NFL touchdown in the second half to brush off any chance at a Miami comeback.

Chargers 22, Bills 10

The Bills had a chance to improve to 3-0, but the Chargers had other ideas. Philip Rivers tossed two touchdown passes to Eddie Royal to pace San Diego, which seemed in control the entire game. Trailing 20-10 in the fourth quarter, the Bills (2-1) failed to convert on a key fourth-and-3 near midfield to eliminate any chance of a comeback. Playing from behind the entire game, the Bills' running back duo of Fred Jackson and CJ Spiller only managed 59 yards on 16 carries.

Texans 23, Bills 17

Everyone knew that Texans defensive star J.J. Watt had a tendency to knock balls out of the air at the line of scrimmage. Not many knew that he had the speed to sprint 80 yards afterward. Watts' thrilling, third-quarter pick-six gave the Texans a 17-10 lead that they never relinquished behind quarterback and ex-Bill Ryan Fitzpatrick. Another exciting 80-yard play, a bomb from EJ Manuel to Mike Williams, kept the Bills (2-2) close, but two 50+-yard field goals by Houston's Randy Bullock in the fourth quarter proved to be difference.

Bills 17, Lions 14

The Bills came up with an improbable win in Detroit to get back above .500 and remain in first place in the AFC East. Defensive coordinator and ex-Lions coach Jim Schwartz was the guy carried off the field, having led a defense that came up with several key stops throughout the game, but kicker Dan Carpenter was the true hero. After an impressive catch by rookie Sammy Watkins moved the Bills into Lions territory in the final seconds, Carpenter booted a 58-yarder to give Buffalo (3-2) a much-needed win in Kyle Orton's first start at quarterback.

Patriots 37, Bills 22

New owners. Same result. In Terry and Kim Pegula's first game as owners of the Bills, the Patriots came to town with first place in the AFC East on the line. Tom Brady, for the 23rd time in 25 starts against the Bills, led his team to victory. The game was within reach for Buffalo (3-3), but lengthy touchdown drives by Brady in the second half (80, 80 and 93 yards) helped seal the deal.

Bills 17, Vikings 16

It wasn't pretty, but the Bills eked out a much-needed win at home to climb back above .500. Buffalo (4-3) couldn't get much of anything going all game, but down six points in the final minutes, Kyle Orton delivered the goods. His 80-yard drive included big-time completions to Scott Chandler and Chris Hogan, before the winning, 2-yard strike to Watkins with one tick left. The dramatic victory was thrilling, but costly. The Bills' running game took a massive hit in the first half when both Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller were carted off the field with injuries.

Bills 43, Jets 23

The Bills (5-3) capitalized on a disastrous performance by the Jets, who turned the ball over six times much to the dismay to their fans, who fled to the exits well before zeroes showed on the clock. Geno Smith threw three interceptions and his replacement, Michael Vick, didn't do much better with a pick and two fumbles. Kyle Orton tossed four touchdown passes to four different receivers, including Sammy Watkins, who reeled in two long bombs and finished with a career-high 157 yards.

BYE WEEK

Jamie Germano / Staff photographer

Season tracker

Week 10

Chiefs 17, Bills 13

Like the ball that was slipped out of the hands of Bryce Brown ... or Scott Chandler ... or Leodis McKelvin, this game was the one that got away. The Bills blew a 10-point lead heading into the final quarter, and McKelvin's gaffe on a punt return led to a Kansas City's go-ahead touchdown. The Bills got within striking distance, but Kyle Orton was 0-for-4 on four straight plays from the Chiefs' 15-yard line with less than three minutes to play. The Bills will have to forget this one fast -- as AFC foe Miami (also 5-4) hosts Buffalo Thursday night.

Dolphins 22, Bills 9

Was that it? With six games left to play, is the Bills' postseason drought guaranteed to hit 15? It sure seems like it after the Bills (5-5) fell apart in the second half and dropped back to .500. Buffalo struggled mightily on third down in the second half and Ryan Tannehill outplayed Kyle Orton to lift Miami, which scored the final 19 points of the game. Dan Carpenter, who nailed five field goals in Week 2 against his former team, made three Thursday, but missed a key 47-yarder in the third quarter that would have tied the game.

Bills 38, Jets 3

Despite the fact that a once-in-a-generation snowstorm forced the Bills to play a home game in Detroit, they dominated the Jets for the second time this season. The Bills improved to 6-5 and kept alive their hopes for a playoff berth.

"Our fans were phenomenal," coach Doug Marrone said. "When I came out there, you don't know what to expect. You get concerned whether it's going to be a home crowd, but as soon as I came out and looked to the right and saw all the blue jerseys, I was like, 'Holy cow, baby, here we go, we got the crowd' and that was a little bit of a relief for me early in the game."

Bills 26, Browns 10

If you ignore the first half completely, the Bills crushed it in Week 13 and kept their playoff hopes alive. Despite their dismal performance before the intermission (0 points, 91 yards and 0-for-6 on third down), the Bills did get a much-needed W over the Browns, with both teams moving to 7-5 heading into the final quarter of their schedules. Jerry Hughes' strip, fumble recovery and scamper for a touchdown (pictured) in the third quarter sparked the Bills' defense, which gave Cleveland coach Mike Pettine a not-so-warm welcome back to the Ralph.

Broncos 24, Bills 17

The Bills needed to keep Peyton Manning in check to have a chance in this one -- and they did. But the end result was still a loss for Buffalo, which dropped to 7-6 and basically needs to win out to have a shot at a playoff berth. Broncos RB C.J. Anderson scored three touchdowns, while Bills WR Sammy Watkins totaled 127 yards and broke the Bills' rookie record for receptions (He now has 58).

Bills 21, Packers 13

The Bills defense proved that containing Peyton Manning the week before was by no means a fluke. Buffalo held MVP candidate Aaron Rodgers to 0 touchdowns and 2 interceptions (both by Baccari Rambo) -- the first such stat line of his career. Marcus Thigpen provided the highlight of the day with a 75-yard punt return for a touchdown and despite not scoring an offensive touchdown, the Bills gave their home fans a memorable final regular-season game at The Ralph.

Raiders 26, Bills 24

Many Bills fans figured their team's flickering playoff hopes would end in Week 17 in New England. Some even thought they'd beat Tom Brady and the Pats for the third time in 26 attempts and end their 14-year playoff drought. All of those fans were wrong. The two-win Raiders slammed the door on the Bills' postseason hopes a week earlier with a 26-24 win in Oakland. The Bills managed just 13 yards on the ground, while allowing the Raiders -- statistically the worst rushing team in the league -- to pile up 140. When it was all said and done, Dec. 21, 2014, was a miserable day to be a Bills fan.

Bills 17, Patriots 9

Before a ball was snapped, both team's 2014 fate had already been decided. Win or lose, the Bills would miss the playoffs for the 15th straight season and the Patriots had already secured home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. Still, the Bills (9-7) persevered and it did accomplish two long-awaited goals: They beat the Pats at Gillette Stadium for the first time in 13 tries. Also, they finished above .500 for the first time since 2004. Though the Bills are sitting out another postseason, the win was a significant one to exorcise some of those New England demons.